The Ashes may be won, a momentous victory sealed over what in truth is a distinctly average Australian side, but England’s team selection for the final test at the Oval makes little sense, whilst the preparation a turning wicket offering nothing to the pace bowlers is equally baffling. The hosts have been far from their best in the series to date, and will have to perform better on the return trip to Australia this winter. One of the main problems for the visitors is that they have failed to work out what is their strongest side, and at the moment the same can be said of England.
Injury to Tim Bresnan forced his absence from the final test, whilst Jonny Bairstow has been omitted after a difficult series. The departures are understandable, although Bairstow would surely have benefited from a show of faith in his ability, with the possibility of scoring runs and gaining confidence now the pressure is off. Their replacements, Chris Woakes and Simon Kerrigan, however, make little sense.
England’s success has been built around playing a team with four bowlers and six batsman, so why have the selectors made the decision to switch to five bowlers. England have had few struggles in bowling the Aussies out in this series, so why the need for a fifth bowler, it just doesn’t add up. Instead the problem has been scoring runs, and now the batting looks even weaker than ever. Matt Prior has not passed 39 in this series, yet now has to step up to the number six position, whilst England appear to have a long tail, despite the batting abilities of Woakes and Stuart Broad.
Woakes may be a solid batsman, but his introduction to the test frame is primarily as a bowler. And as a bowler, he is respectable, but at the moment there are doubts as to whether he has the experience and pace to impress on the international stage. Steven Finn, dropped after the first test, and Chris Tremlett appeared better options, with the latter having an excellent record of 17 wickets in three tests against the Aussies. On his home ground and with his tail up, Tremlett would have been a dangerous proposition, whilst Finn undoubtedly possesses the wicket taking ability, even if he has been expensive of late. On this wicket though both would have struggled, as it appears to offer a grand total of nothing to fast bowlers.
If Woakes’ inclusion was a surprise, Kerrigan’s was a major shock. The Lancashire slow left-armer received some stick from Shane Watson in the previous warm up match for the England Lions, and his first two overs were dispatched for 28, as Watson capitalised on some nervy bowling. A bright future is predicted for Kerrigan, who many see as a potential successor to Graeme Swann, but again there are doubts as to whether he is yet ready to burst onto the international stage. Then finally there is the question as to why England are playing two spinners, even if this is a turning track. We’re not in the sub-continent, and Joe Root has shown that he can provide a handy alternative with his bowling in this series. Or are we actually in Mumbai or Calcutta, you wouldn’t be surprised if we were by taking a look at this wicket. To put it frankly, the preparation of the Oval pitch is bizarre, one which seemingly offers nothing to fast bowlers, with no swing and little seam movement, with the potential for spin. England’s whole ploy going into this final test just doesn’t make sense.
If Bairstow was to be dropped, then another batsman should have been given a chance to impress, and England are not short of options. Michael Carberry has been one of the form players on the county circuit, and could have slotted into the side at the top of the order, allowing Joe Root to move down the order. Alternatively two youngsters in the shape of James Taylor and Gary Balance have continued to knock on the door, and both deserve a chance.